Sony Pictures Classics on the Verge of “Dreams” and “Tangos”; Company Co-Presidents Barker and Berna

Sony Pictures Classics on the Verge of "Dreams" and "Tangos"; Company Co-Presidents Barker and Berna

Sony Pictures Classics on the Verge of “Dreams” and “Tangos”; Company Co-Presidents Barker and Bernard Discuss Their Cannes Favorites

by Anthony Kaufman

At the opening night party of Hal Hartley’s “Henry Fool,” indieWIREcaught up with Michael Barker and Tom Bernard of Sony Pictures Classics.While as of last night, no official acquisition announcements had beenmade, sources claim that Sony Pictures Classics has made a deal withthe critically acclaimed competition film, “La Vie Revee Des Anges” (The Dream Life of Angels) from debuting director Erick Zonca. Buzzhas been good on the French film since its screening last Sunday, butdistributors have been waiting for the right deal. Barker toldindieWIRE he thought Zonka’s first effort was “a wonderful film, justwonderful. Directors like Erick Zonka are the real sign of the futurefor European films. No question about it.” Sony Pictures Classics hasn’tshied from French product in the past; the company will release firsttime helmer Manuel Pradal’s “Marie Baie des Anges” this July. Sonywill also likely also announce, sooner than later, the acquisition of CarlosSaura’s latest, luxurious dance pic “Tango” screening out ofcompetition this Friday. Barker confessed, “We’re definitely workingand you’ll hear about something very substantial soon.”

Of this year’s films, Barker is impressed with the American directorsand the French as well. Bernard added to their list of interests “alittle seen movie, [called] ‘SLC Punk’. I think it’s one of the secrets ofthe festival, but they only had one screening. There’s a lot of surpriseshere and it’s just as every year, you have to find them.”

And what else are Barker and Bernard doing this week. Bernard said,“We’ve been reading a lot of scripts. I don’t think any of them areworth 3 or 4 million dollars.” And why such the high price tag?Bernard explained, “With the new mini-majors like Miramax and thewanna-be mini-majors like October, people are looking to try and cash inon these people that want to emulate what a studio does, so they’reasking for studio prices with studio talent and they’re really notindependent films; they’re pushing low-budget studio movies. That’s notthe business we’re in. We’re in the business of buying good movies that aredirector-driven.”

When asked whether they thought October might be annoucing pick-upsmerely to claim, “We’ve picked up three and they haven’t picked up any?”Barker replied, “You said it, I didn’t. We wish them the best.”

Lamenting the higher prices of films in this money-hungry marketplace,Bernard said, “People are here to sell to get the maximum dollars, sothey’re not going to sell a movie right away. They’re going to hold outto see if they can get the big money.” Bernard continued, reflecting onthe business of this year’s 51st Cannes, “A lot of sellers are standingout in the hall, but I don’t think they’re interested in the mid-levelmovies here. They want to put $4 or $5 million in and come up with thenext “Full Monty,” rather than the next “In the Company of Men.” Peopleare in a lot of different businesses, you got a lot of independentcompanies that are into the video market place now. So they’re lookingfor video films, so they’re not looking for the bread and butter ofCannes which are the quality, mid-range type films.”